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Arc Dream Announces Black Company RPG
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<blockquote data-quote="ruemere" data-source="post: 9315997" data-attributes="member: 5515"><p>The original world of the Black Company sports several tiers of characters:</p><p></p><p>1. Mundane unskilled characters. Die like 0-level D&D commoners.</p><p></p><p>2. Mundane skilled characters. 1-3 level equivalent. Basically, martial characters without magic tools.</p><p></p><p>3. Magic users, expert martial characters. That's near 5-6th level in terms of suvivability. It's important to note that magic users age slowly, are physically adept at least on the same level as martials (or alternatively can boost their prowess temporarily), and they have at least one trump card that allows them to escape. They can also create magic tools. Expert martial characters are tough - they can take a physical hit from an epic character and still keep on going.</p><p></p><p>4. The epic magic users. They have always an array of trumps in the form of magic trinkets, can perform amazing feats of physical prowess, perform area of effect attacks, communicate over vast distances. It is however hinted that there are hard limits on their trump cards, so really amazing powers are used only when in dire need. For battlefield usage, epic magic users often need time to prepare a set of spell (days or weeks). They can make tools (like flying carpets) that they can share with others. They can be worn down and killed, but they often have a lifesaving ability so that they can return to life later, albeit often at the cost of some permanent damage. It is unknown why but all epic users are portrayed as lacking in humanity, physically or psychologically.</p><p></p><p>4.5 The Taken. An epic magic user that has been submitted to an ultimate form of magic fealty. Traumatized by the process of being Taken. An undead - they can be reduced in form but almost never killed. The damage they take usually degrades them, but they can rely on magic to replace missing or unusuable limbs. The Taken's will is their own, and they hate their liege, however they acknowledge their bond with their liege and always submit to the will of their liege if confronted directly - their rebellion is possible, but ultimately short-lived. Their liege can torment them as a form of punishment. The Taken cannot be killed unless allowed to do so by their liege. They can still be made to suffer or be imprisoned.</p><p></p><p>5. Transcendent magic users. They are more like will anchored to a physical object than a person. Of this particular type, only Dominator and the Lady fit the category, though she is somewhere between epic and transcendent level. It is unclear how such beings function, however their presence alone is enough to make the mortals become unable to think or act. It us unclear how the Lady was able to maintain her body. Unkillable unless their true name is uttered with an an intent to harm them, or strip them of their powers, or a great sacrifice is made.*</p><p></p><p>* On the second thought, I get strong Soulslike vibes from the final books in the series, with Shivetya being the third transcendent magic user, and their method of reacquiring mortality being the fourth method to become capable of dying. Note however that Shivetya is unlikely to have lost magic powers, and also being the magic user he probably can still have means to extend their life.</p><p></p><p>I wonder how they are planning to support these.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="ruemere, post: 9315997, member: 5515"] The original world of the Black Company sports several tiers of characters: 1. Mundane unskilled characters. Die like 0-level D&D commoners. 2. Mundane skilled characters. 1-3 level equivalent. Basically, martial characters without magic tools. 3. Magic users, expert martial characters. That's near 5-6th level in terms of suvivability. It's important to note that magic users age slowly, are physically adept at least on the same level as martials (or alternatively can boost their prowess temporarily), and they have at least one trump card that allows them to escape. They can also create magic tools. Expert martial characters are tough - they can take a physical hit from an epic character and still keep on going. 4. The epic magic users. They have always an array of trumps in the form of magic trinkets, can perform amazing feats of physical prowess, perform area of effect attacks, communicate over vast distances. It is however hinted that there are hard limits on their trump cards, so really amazing powers are used only when in dire need. For battlefield usage, epic magic users often need time to prepare a set of spell (days or weeks). They can make tools (like flying carpets) that they can share with others. They can be worn down and killed, but they often have a lifesaving ability so that they can return to life later, albeit often at the cost of some permanent damage. It is unknown why but all epic users are portrayed as lacking in humanity, physically or psychologically. 4.5 The Taken. An epic magic user that has been submitted to an ultimate form of magic fealty. Traumatized by the process of being Taken. An undead - they can be reduced in form but almost never killed. The damage they take usually degrades them, but they can rely on magic to replace missing or unusuable limbs. The Taken's will is their own, and they hate their liege, however they acknowledge their bond with their liege and always submit to the will of their liege if confronted directly - their rebellion is possible, but ultimately short-lived. Their liege can torment them as a form of punishment. The Taken cannot be killed unless allowed to do so by their liege. They can still be made to suffer or be imprisoned. 5. Transcendent magic users. They are more like will anchored to a physical object than a person. Of this particular type, only Dominator and the Lady fit the category, though she is somewhere between epic and transcendent level. It is unclear how such beings function, however their presence alone is enough to make the mortals become unable to think or act. It us unclear how the Lady was able to maintain her body. Unkillable unless their true name is uttered with an an intent to harm them, or strip them of their powers, or a great sacrifice is made.* * On the second thought, I get strong Soulslike vibes from the final books in the series, with Shivetya being the third transcendent magic user, and their method of reacquiring mortality being the fourth method to become capable of dying. Note however that Shivetya is unlikely to have lost magic powers, and also being the magic user he probably can still have means to extend their life. I wonder how they are planning to support these. [/QUOTE]
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